Monday, July 14, 2008

Pondering the Mayor's letter.

Mayor Steve MitchellRichardson, Texas

I got a letter from the Mayor two weeks ago in reply to my questions and concerns for those who are poor, and homeless in the city. He chose the same expression as the former Mayor did in his reply to me over a month ago. They both commended for my passion. I suppose passion undergirds my letters and newspaper articles but I choose to believe I simply have compassion.

After several weeks of pondering the Mayor's commendation I have come to the conclusion that it is far easier for one to to distance themselves from a passionate person. But oh, how much harder it is to discount one with compassion.

It seems my passion is to be commended but is not something that the city can be bothered with at this particular time. The cities passion at the moment is to become a premier first tier suburb. Everyone knows that premier communities don't want to be bothered with issues such as poverty or homelessness.

Case and point. Our mayor asked me when visiting my office who the homeless really belong to. If a person doesn't have an address then which city in the Metroplex is responsible to offer assistance. I suppose we can all stand around and yelp that we aren't responsible.

Technically the Mayor is correct. This city like all other cities are designed to serve citizens who live within the city limits. Yet, the pesky little fact that we are all members of the human race, and are called by God to have compassion for each other means that we are responsible for those who are without basic needs.

His letter was written to tell me what it means when the city says they support the local community ministry agency. He couldn't tell me what "support" meant until he had some research done. The good news is that the city does have the work of the local agency in mind. The real news is the city offers minimal assistance.

The rest of the news is that this city can do so much better. There are people who will gladly offer support and wisdom as to how the city can be proactive in offering support and care for those in need.

Passionate or Compassionate? Call me what you want. I believe caring for others in tangible ways is our human responsibility!"I know, you are probably asking what would Jesus do?" the mayor said to me. That's a comment reserved for the Mayor when speaking with minister types!

No, I'm not waiting for Jesus to do anything. Jesus is waiting for me and you to get off our duff and DO!

I think it was Rob Bell once in a sermon who talked about water in Africa. His comment was...This is bad and it makes God angry. I can imagine an angry God who doesn't like it when people are suffering. YOu are right. It is our job to do something about it.We have to be the people of the church. We have to show compassion.

Followers

a bit of my story

My grandmother taught me the art of laughter. She also taught me to be honest about life. Along the way as I share the ups and downs of my journey I consistently bump into laughter.
Laughter is a many sided gift of which humor is only one aspect. I believe laughter is like prayer....with faith and hope there is always space for laughter. We laugh....for the last word will be justice and liberation and goodness!

faith and life

faith is an integral part of my life. every aspect of life holds a dose of faith.

Bishop Desmund Tutu

There are so many good people and so many beautiful things, and I want to be able to luxuriate in contemplating the goodness, the beauty, the laughter and the courage that is in the world.

ee cummings

the most wasted of all days is one without laughter.

Mark Twain:

"The human race has only one really effective weapon and that is laughter."

Ricardo Levins Morales:

"Laughter is the sound of hope - Hope is the seed of power - Power is the combined force of a multitude of voices joined together...that began as a mere whisper, lost in the immense darkness and the ferocious cold and only kept alive by small improbable notes of laughter."

Anne Lamott:

“Laughter is carbonated holiness, It is effervescent, full of fizz.

A smile, a grin, or full-bodied laughter is such a gift in our super-serious world. It reminds us of friendship, of joy, of playfulness. And, it’s contagious."

Karl Barth:

"Laughter is the closest thing to the grace of God."

Francois Fenelon:

"And the selfsame well from which laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears."